LCBO Strike – Stock up on your Liquor!

Looks like the LCBO strike is inevitable. LCBOs all across Ontario have been VERY crowded today. If you haven’t already stocked up now’s the time to do so before today’s midnight deadline! That’s if you’re lucky enough to find anything left.

Toronto LCBO outlets are a sea of empty shelves, as consumers brave long lineups to stock up ahead of the midnight strike deadline tonight.

‘‘I have never seen a lineup like this,’’ said David Ritter, as he walked around the LCBO at Lawrence Avenue and Don Mills Road, three lonely bottles of Robert’s Rock in his cart, this afternoon. ‘‘It’s amazing. It’s just incredible.’’

Scott Davison had five bottles of Smirnoff and a certain amount of skepticism an actual strike is coming. But the lone lineups and prospect of a summer without alcohol convinced him a government-owned liquor monopoly isn’t a good idea.

‘‘Just goes to show you that maybe they should sell liquor in private stores, maybe they wouldn’t have this,’’ he said.

Well, the LCBO may have the biggest market share in the province. But, it is not a monopoly. You can buy your wines in the Beer Stores and some small wine shops in the malls/supermarkets.

By the way, what do you think the Health Care/Education are funded by? Yes, the LCBO gave the province over $1 Billion in dividends last year. Turning it into a private sector, I think we will have a new rock-bottom definition of “have-not” province.

I doubt that if there is a strike that it will go on for too long.
The LCBO people are making very very good money. I am not sure that they will get the public support since many people are out of work.
I do agree however that though there is a place for part time worker, there shouldn’t be people working 2 and 3 of these jobs to survive, especially if they are making poverty line wages.

I will support them, they deserve to have the security that at this moment a lot of people do not. If the economy was doing better than it is today a lot of people would not have a problem with them going on strike.

I just returned from the busiest liquor store I had ever laid eyes on in recent memory and it was one of our larger liquor stores. I never thought about going to la Belle province, only an hour and half away, so perhaps that is a solution if we get desperate 😉 Thanks for the great solution to our possible booze shortage 🙂

I make wine at home. I also have a recipe for counterfeit Kahlua. Here’s my plan: in order to supplement my EI payments I’ll sell it to the alcohol-deprived LCBO customers. I’ll round up the local stray dogs & cats, squirrels & chipmunks, fit them out with little wagons (don’t tell PETA or SPCA) & direct them to the tunnel I’ll dig under the fence. On the other side of the fence will be my customers. I just need a plan to divert the revenoors from my get-rich-quick scheme (remember The Beverly Hillbillies)?
P.S. You didn’t hear any of this from me!

My husband is a LCBO employee. They are treated poorly. The LCBO discriminates and plays favourites when issuing schedules. It took my husband who is a very hard working employee over 10 years to become a full time employee. Ten years of blood, sweat and tears while the Ontario government raked in the profits before he was given a fair shake. I don’t know where people are getting their information from, but the LCBO employees are not overally well paid. When you only work 25 hours a week, a wage at $15/hr is reasonable.
The LCBO imports and distributes all wines that are your local stores as well as the majority of the imported beers you find at the Beer Store. If the LCBO goes on strike it affects everyone from the little restaurant on the corner to the LCBO satellite store in Bobcageyon. Those kiosks in the grocery stores will close as they purchase their wine directly from the LCBO.
It should bother all of Ontarians if the LCBO goes on strike whether you drink or not….how do you think the Ontario government pays for your health care, your kids education???? All of these organizations are funded by the profits from the LCBO. This province would self-destruct if the LCBO employees were to go on a long strike. Ontario doesn’t have Oil like Alberta to fall back on….we have a need for the alcohol sales. The LCBO will never be privatized in this province. Dalton needs to come to the table with a fair and reasonable offer to protect these hard working employees. If he can give $318,000 severance packages to the clowns at Ehealth, he can maintain a way of life for the LCBO.

I don’t think that the health and education system is purely paid for by the Lcbo. And If the Lcbo is paying for all this stuff what is the hundreds of dollars that comes off my husbands pay each week go to.

Honestly It doesn’t really effect me to the point that I needed to go and buy a ton. I don’t drink much, and maybe it would be less drunk drivers in my town.

I’m not much of a drinker, so the strike won’t really bother me one way or another. I agree that we don’t have oil to fall back on, but we have the OLG that certainly helps keep the province afloat, not just the LCBO. And it’s not really fair to say that it’s the LCBO that discriminates. Any workplace has flaws and people in charge of scheduling who have their “pets” who get everything while others get the leftover, crappy stuff to do or shifts to take. In this economy, everyone should be grateful for what they CAN GET and not what they think they are OWED. The 80s are over. Get a reality check and live within your means. I wouldn’t dare go ask my boss for a raise right now, because that money has to come from somewhere, and if my boss pays me more, that means he has to charge more, and then who is going to buy what we have to offer, when their wages aren’t going up either?

Privatize or be held up at every turn by the Unions. People of Ontario, it’s time to stop coddling these thieves & let the people that pay for these wages be free from tyranny. T.O. City workers or LCBO or ??? it doesn’t matter. The free ride is over. Get used to it. Go ahead & breathe the air or be held hostage as long as you like… It’s your vote.

Theresa: Just curious 15$/hr for part time is still quite high, other than the fact that he’s been there for 10 years. Then in my opinion its low. But that also includes benefits right?

But what does a full time employee make there who’s been there for 10 years? because I’m willing to be its around 20-25$/hr which is rediculous for no post secondary education required and no stress job.

Either way I think most of the city workers are going to be hard pressed to find any support, and rightfully so. But I do agree there are bigger problems with the gross overpayments of CEO’s and such.

I also work for the LCBO, and I’d be surprised if there was actually a strike. Even if there was, I don’t see it lasting more than a few days. IMO… I’m treated very well by them, and love where I work.

Overpaid, I don’t think so. It’s hard work, requires a lot of training, and knowledge. The staff and management are great. I fell lucky knowing that something I do helps contribute to other people’s lives. We do help support education, health and other provincial programs, and we have even saved lives by dettering drunk customers from driving out of our stores. I agree no company is perfect, but this one “ain’t so bad”.

I still can’t stop chuckling at the “brave long lineups” comment.
My hat is off to these unsung heroes who had the courage to stand in line in an air conditioned store to purchase a summers worth of booze. ( I think I have just exceeded Health Canada’s daily recommended dose of sarcasm and the day is still young)
Brave? Not even close to the right word.
Our armed service personnel, first responders, etc.. Let’s save that honour for them

I can’t believe people think no liquor is the end of their world! Cmon folks! Do we have an alcohol problem to match the U.S. where liquor is readily available at the drop of a hat and liquor store robberies are rambant?

my mom works for the LCBO and she is treated great at her job. When she was injured twice while working, everything was handled smoothly and her job was there for her when she came back. Sure you don’t need post ed in order to work for the LCBO but there are a lot of other skills that are valued and it does take training. If the LCBO does go on strike (which is hasn’t yet) go to the beer store or other places to get booze, but don’t cross the picket lines. Think about if the situation was reversed, would you want them to cross the picket line. It’s all about support now.
Oh and Alex..your comment proves that you have no idea what the strike is about.

Hey does anyone know weather you can order on line, say from another province or country put on visa and shipped??????? What are the restriction???????Taxes?duty?ect….OH well it was diverted for a little while. Worst comes to worst we could take the train to Niagra Falls..get a lot more varity and cheaper

No kidding. It’s funny to see people freak out like that. Like they can’t live without alchohol. And yet there are people in other countries who can’t even get clean water to drink.
Wow, they’re complaining that $15 an hour isn’t enough?! I know people who have tougher jobs than that, who sweat outdoors in the blazing heat for 11 hours a day and get less.

Just goes to show that many people who have made comments haven’t the slightest idea why LCBO is in negotiations! It’s not about hourly rate of pay…its about job security & seniority! Grow up people! Many of these employees have worked for LCBO for 10+ years & are making $15/hr & are continued to be parttime or casual workers. Gov’t employers all for themselves, & wanting to reduce full time workers! Are they nuts?
Try raising a family, making mortgage payments, car payments, putting food on the table, put clothing on your kids backs, paying your utility bills, credit cards, high cost of gas for your car all on $15/hr…, PLUS pay for prescriptions & other health care that is not covered by OHIP …and that LCBO employees do not have as benefits!on $15/hr!1 Its just not possible people!
And NO I do not work for LCBO, but I do work for another Municipal Gov’t Agency & I do know how gov’t employers run their ‘so-called’ businesses … all for them, and nothing for their employees! I’ve been there…been fully involved in our unions local, being president, as well as chair of many committees. The only way to get what you want with a gov’t employer is to fight with them by means of union negotiations!
No union = no job!!!

Just goes to show that many people who have made comments haven’t the slightest idea why LCBO is in negotiations! It’s not about hourly rate of pay…its about job security & seniority! Grow up people! Many of these employees have worked for LCBO for 10+ years & are making $15/hr & are continued to be parttime or casual workers. Gov’t employers all for themselves, & wanting to reduce full time workers! Are they nuts?
Try raising a family, making mortgage payments, car payments, putting food on the table, put clothing on your kids backs, paying your utility bills, credit cards, high cost of gas for your car all on $15/hr…, PLUS pay for prescriptions & other health care that is not covered by OHIP …and that LCBO employees do not have as benefits!on $15/hr!1 Its just not possible people!
And NO I do not work for LCBO, but I do work for another Municipal Gov’t Agency & I do know how gov’t employers run their ‘so-called’ businesses … all for them, and nothing for their employees! I’ve been there…been fully involved in our unions local, being president, as well as chair of many committees. The only way to get what you want with a gov’t employer is to fight with them by means of union negotiations!
No union = no job!!!
WHAT KIND OF ONTARIO DO WE REALLY WANT?http://www.opseu.org/lbed/2009bargaining/LBED-Info-Flyer_Letter_a.pdf

If you aren’t satisifed with $15 an hour right now, good luck finding another job elsewhere for the same amount with no education.
Why are the employees surprised that they are making the same amount 10 years later? Were they sent off to school to move up in the company and didn’t get the promotion. I don’t think so.

yeah, I don’t see how people think that working at the LCBO is a career. Sorry but its not a job where you should be able to buy a house, raise a family pay all of the bills off of! Its a retail position! Should people working at McD’s get the same? Because they have very similar things to deal with, and worse. And yes the LCBO does good things for the community but thats because over 50% of it is tax money. If we had to pay 50% tax on fast food we would expect certain extra services out of them too.

15$ isnt bad, not great, but there is much better out there. I have a few friends working straight out of highschool making 33$/hr now. Union jobs are grossly overpaid, the problem is is the LCBO is a public company and shouldnt be high pay since its public money paying the wages. All thats needed is an adult supervisor at 20$/hr, and then part timers at a bit over minimum wage.

“Union jobs are grossly overpaid”~Ryan says
Union jobs can be grossly overpaid. However so can other jobs…often up to and including CEO and professional sports. The facts are non-union jobs can be grossly underpaid also…along with poor benefits and unfair workplace environments. It would seem these days that without a union you get taken advantage of by some companies (though not all).
Unions are everywhere. It doesn’t matter what you call them. Federations, confederations, associations, affiliations, alliances, leaguies, corporations, fraternities. They all mean Strength In Numbers. What would business do without their Chamber of Commersce?
It would seem that some want to keep anyone in retail (who they claim falsely of having no education such as KAS above), at the bottom of the pile. Maybe it makes themselves feel more important?

I fully understand the benefits of the unions as they raise the bar for the entire work force. Everyone in my family works for a large union with unbelievably benefits. The problem is is its a tax payer job, so why should the tax payers pay people more than what they themselves can get? Unions in the private industry are fine in my opinion get everything you can, if the company fails so do you… but when it comes to tax payer jobs theres an endless pit of money and they seem to get more and more. You think someone who works at the LCBO as a part time employee making 15-18$/hr is fair when someone doing the exact same job in any other retail job gets 10$/hr – which was raised quite a bit recently.

yes almost every CEO is overpaid, but when in private companies who cares, its their money. If its a publicly owned company then yes I agree thats again something that should be fixed. Pro sports, whatever thats a whole different issue with what we value as a society.

And underpaid in a union? who? what position I’ve yet to see one, maybe the absolute brilliant people who could be growing faster in a private company where they arent slowed down by procedures…? But even in the company my father used to work for, starting salary for a janitor is 27$/hr, thats starting and it grows quickly to 34$/hr, with all the fantasitic benefits and OT. And yes I’ve tried to get a position hundreds of times, but with such grossly overpaid positions the hiring process is basically a lottery.

Either way, I’m just saying it should be different when it comes to public money.

I have not purchased those mini liquor bottles in months. I do keep an eye for empties on my walks, because those dimes add up. I have not been in a union, but two temp jobs years ago in a unionized environment did show that things I would normally do in a private business (tear/flatten cardboard for recycling) could not be done at those offices. I called it my “walking into rules I did not know about until after the fact.”

As for the strike that never happened, I am surprised that people turned up to stand in long lines. They could have given the winery stores some business instead, to let the LCBO know they are not the only game in the province.

I don’t understand some of the posters. I realize that unions are abused up to a point. However, what are the main reasons for having a union?

Do you think that life without unions will be better? Some workplaces work without a union and some don’t.

If you were working at a business that treated you unfairly, what would you do? And running to find another job is not an option.

There has to be some way to find a balance of managing the owners and the workers. If you give the owners complete control, they will eventually take advantage…on the other hand, if the employees get control, they will eventually take advantage. So how can this be solved?

Unions are for the lazy and they protect the lazy. THE END!
I work for the Governement and I actually work my ass off and I pay my ‘union dues’ and I get the same pay as the other a@#hole who does nothing. Why? Because of the union!

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